Embedded Linux Newsletter for Oct. 31, 2002 (LinuxDevices)

      WELCOME TO LINUXDEVICES.COM'S EMBEDDED LINUX NEWSLETTER 
                          October 31, 2002
                by Rick Lehrbaum -- Executive Editor

                        (online html version)
     http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/oct31-02.html


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_____________________ * * * TOP STORIES * * * ____________________


EDC DEVELOPER SURVEY:  LINUX, WINDOWS NECK-AND-NECK IN EMBEDDED
According to data recently compiled by Evans Data Corp (EDC), Linux
and Windows are running neck-and-neck in terms of developer use for
future projects. The newest installment of EDC's Embedded Systems
Developer Survey, fielded in July 2002, shows 30.2% of embedded
developers expect to use Linux in their next embedded project, while
16.2% say they will use Windows CE and another 14.4% say they will
use Windows XP Embedded -- giving Windows Embedded operating systems
a slight edge over Embedded Linux, at 30.6% vs. 30.2%. However,
Embedded Linux has nearly double the growth rate.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT7342059167.html


INTRODUCING 'EMBEDDED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT WITH ECOS'
Anthony J. Massa provided this brief introduction to his new book on
eCos which will be published later this year by Prentice Hall. 
Massa describes his book as "the quickest way to get started using 
. . . the open-source and royalty-free Embedded Configurable
Operating System (eCos)."
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8969982305.html


WIND RIVER'S FIDDLER ON THE ADVANTAGES -- AND DISADVANTAGES -- 
OF LINUX
Wind River's chairman and cofounder Jerry Fiddler has written a
whitepaper about the strengths and weaknesses of Linux relative to
use in embedded systems and devices. Not surprisingly, Fiddler
concludes that although there are some attractive attributes
associated with Linux, embedded system and device developers would
be much better off using one of Wind River's products -- either
VxWorks or BSD/OS.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5247605404.html


DEVICE PROFILE: CORACCESS HOME MANAGEMENT APPLIANCES
This LinuxDevices.com 'device profile' introduces a pair of home
appliances which contain Linux as their embedded operating systems. 
The CorAccess Companion Home Management Panels give homeowners
one-touch access to lighting, appliances, thermostat and security
control, as well as a digital photo frame, and provide a convenient
camera monitoring function which makes it easy to check the front
door, the kids' playroom, and even traffic and weather.
Additionally, the devices represent platforms for future
applications such as intercom, Internet radio, and whole-home audio
control. 
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4999104683.html


MITRE REPORT ON USE OF FREE AND OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE BY THE 
U.S. DEPT. OF DEFENSE
Mitre Corp. has published a study entitled 'Use of Free and
Open-Source Software (FOSS) in the U.S. Department of Defense.' The
study was reportedly commissioned by the U.S. government.  The full
160-page MITRE paper is available for free download. [Don't worry --
only the first 26 pages are the actual discussion; the balance
consists of appendices.]
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7747450961.html


FAMILIAR LINUX PROJECT RELEASES VERS. 0.6, OPIE 1.0 COMING SOON
handhelds.org has released version 0.6 of the Familiar Linux
distribution for the iPAQ and other handheld devices. New features
include BusyBox as well as a 2.4.18 Linux kernel which includes
patches for preemptive multitasking.  Also, the Open Palmtop
Integrated Environment (OPIE) is heading towards its first stable
1.0 release.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9048585605.html


TV LINUX ALLIANCE RELEASES FIRST SPEC
The TV Linux Alliance, a consortium of digital media technology
suppliers established to define a standards-based Linux environment
for the digital set-top box market, announced the availability of
its specification version 0.8. The group's specification defines a
standardized set of programming interfaces speeding the development
of Linux-based set-top applications.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9213235068.html


DIRECTFB 0.9.14 RELEASED
A new development version of DirectFB has been released. This is the
first version of this graphics library that offers the ability to
run DirectFB applications on SDL instead of the Linux frame buffer
device. This makes it possible to use DirectFB on BSD and allows
developers to integrate DirectFB application development into their
X11 working environment.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9210780880.html


OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE PAST WEEK . . .

*  BusyBox 0.60.5 released
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6490329631.html

*  3D game engine to support Linux-based mobile devices
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3993007964.html

*  Media server supports Linux-based SIP telephony clients
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6217735943.html

*  Helix DNA digital media client source code now available
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6816722460.html

*  Text-to-speech solution voice-enables Embedded Linux apps
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4083756431.html

*  Transmeta and MontaVista target Linux-based consumer devices
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2438928697.html

*  Realfeel test of the preemptible kernel patch
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4391356858.html

*  Ballot on IEEE P1003.13 POSIX Realtime/Embedded App Support
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6176170667.html

*  Ballot on IEEE P1003.26 real-time standard
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2060154506.html

*  IP interoperability demonstrated under Embedded Linux
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7294375112.html

*  Next Linux ('2.6' or '3.0'?) due by June
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2099262846.html

*  Linux to power IBM's 'Blue Gene' supercomputer
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9038619255.html

*  Broadcom unveils 'smallest' Bluetooth receiver chip
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9978965454.html

*  Wi-Fi wireless poised to take off
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2976269616.html

*  Firewire on the rise
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9300458615.html


______ * * * FREQUENTLY UPDATED QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES * * * _____

*  EMBEDDED LINUX INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW ("start here")
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9888936014.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2760742655.html

*  REAL-TIME LINUX
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8073314981.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX GUI/WINDOWING SOFTWARE
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9202043619.html

*  JAVA TECHNOLOGIES FOR EMBEDDED LINUX SYSTEMS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8918758707.html

*  LINUX-FRIENDLY SYSTEM-ON-CHIP PROCESSORS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4313418436.html

*  LINUX-FRIENDLY EMBEDDED SINGLE BOARD COMPUTERS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2614444132.html

*  LITTLE LINUX SYSTEMS FOR PROJECTS & PRODUCTS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2016997232.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX "COOL DEVICES"
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4936596231.html

*  LINUX-BASED PDAs
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8728350077.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX MARKET
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT5991623822.html


____________________* * * BACK ISSUES * * * ____________________

Missed a previous LinuxDevices.com Embedded Linux Newsletter?
No problem!  Here are back issues for the past month . . . 

  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/oct24-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/oct17-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/oct10-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/oct03-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/sep26-02.html


______________ * * * VISIT LINUXDEVICES.COM * * * _______________

Be sure to stop by LinuxDevices.com (http://www.linuxdevices.com)
-- "the Embedded Linux Portal" -- for the latest news, articles,
forums, companies, products, jobs, and buzz in the fast-moving 
"post-PC" world of Linux-based intelligent devices, Internet 
appliances, and embedded systems.


_________ * * * QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS? * * * _________

     You can reach Rick Lehrbaum at:  rick@linuxdevices.com
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